Tape having electronic elements thereon and system for using the same

Abstract

A tape for use in estimating how many electronic parts being fed to an electronic part inserting machine remain on the tqape and a system for using the same. More particularly, a system which counts the remaining electronic parts on the end portion of the tape and sets up a most suitable time that the presently used tape should be replaced with a new one so that the system dead time which may occur during the replacement of tape rolls is remarkably reduced. This tape includes a mark formed at the beginning of an end portion of the tape where some electronic parts are left to be fed to the electronic part inserting machine, and the mark is sensed by a sensor so that the count starts when the end portion of the tape is sensed. The electronic parts inserting machine employing this tape is comprised of a memory for storing a value corresponding to the number of remaining parts attached to the end portion of the tape, a counter for counting down from the number stored in the memory as each remaining part is used, a displayer for displaying the count value generated by the counter, and an CPU for controlling the memory and the counter.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tape for feeding electronic parts to an electronic parts inserting machine, comprising: a tape for carrying the electronic parts, the tape having a predetermined width and on which the electronic parts are mounted to be spaced at a predetermined distance from each other; and   an identifying mark which is formed on a terminal portion of the tape, for indicating that an end of the tape is near.   
     
     
       2. A tape for feeding electronic parts to an electronic parts inserting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the terminal portion of the tape on which the mark is formed has a different thickness from another portion of the tape. 
     
     
       3. A tape for feeding electronic parts to an electronic parts inserting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mark includes a plurality of holes perforated to be spaced at a predetermined distance from each other in the terminal portion of the tape. 
     
     
       4. A tape for feeding electronic parts to an electronic parts inserting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mark comprises a light reflecting surface having a reflecting degree different from that of tape. 
     
     
       5. A tape for feeding electronic parts to an electronic parts inserting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mark includes a magnetic material attached to the terminal portion of the tape. 
     
     
       6. A tape for feeding electronic parts to an electronic parts inserting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mark includes a plurality of grooves formed to be spaced at a predetermined distance from each other on the terminal portion of the tape. 
     
     
       7. A tape for feeding electronic parts to an electronic parts inserting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mark includes a serrate projection extending outwardly from the terminal portion of the tape.